Mobile crossdock

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a mobile crossdock system comprising one or more containers aligned in a configuration to form a mobile crossdock for mobile crossdock operations. The one or more containers are detachably attached to a platform such as a vehicle trailer. Further, the one or more containers may comprise a first side having a first plurality of openings and a second side having a second plurality of openings. A plurality of doors are aligned with the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings and are configured to move between a closed position and an open position. A plurality of ramps are configured to lift or raise a rear end of a vehicle to a position where a cargo area of the vehicle is substantially aligned with a floor of the mobile crossdock.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
       1. A mobile crossdock system, comprising:
 a plurality of intermodal freight containers longitudinally aligned in a predefined configuration for crossdock operations, individual ones of the plurality of intermodal freight containers being detachably attached to a single vehicle trailer, at least one of the plurality of intermodal freight containers being modified to comprise a first side having a first plurality of openings and a second side having a second plurality of openings, at least one of the first plurality of openings being directly aligned with at least one of the second plurality of openings, the single vehicle trailer comprising a plurality of wheels facilitating a movement of the mobile crossdock system; 
 a plurality of doors aligned with individual ones of the first plurality of openings and individual ones of the second plurality of openings, the plurality of doors being configured to move vertically between a closed position and an open position; 
 a plurality of ramps configured to lift a rear end of a delivery vehicle to align a cargo area of the delivery vehicle with a floor of the mobile crossdock system; 
 at least one opening in a roof of the mobile crossdock system adapted to receive a drone during a delivery operation; and 
 a drone platform positioned in an interior of the mobile crossdock system adapted to receive the drone. 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile crossdock system of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform detachably attached to a base of the mobile crossdock system, wherein the platform is configured to dynamically adjust a height of the mobile crossdock system. 
     
     
       3. The mobile crossdock system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dock plate positioned to bridge a gap between the floor of the mobile crossdock system and the cargo area of the delivery vehicle. 
     
     
       4. A mobile crossdock, comprising:
 a plurality of mobile containers detachably attached to at least one platform in an L-shaped configuration, wherein a distal end of a first one of the plurality of the mobile containers is coupled to a distal end of a second one of the plurality of the mobile containers using a first securing component, and wherein an opposite distal end of the second one of the plurality of mobile containers is coupled to a lateral side of a third one of the plurality of mobile containers using a second securing component; 
 wherein the first one and the second one of the plurality of mobile containers comprise at least one lateral side having a plurality of openings, wherein individual ones of the plurality of openings are configured to align with at least one of another mobile container or a cargo area of a vehicle; and 
 a plurality of doors aligned with individual ones of the plurality of openings, the plurality of doors being configured to move between a closed position and an open position. 
 
     
     
       5. The mobile crossdock of  claim 4 , further comprising a ramp configured to lift a rear end of the vehicle to align the cargo area of the vehicle with a floor of the at least one mobile container. 
     
     
       6. The mobile crossdock of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one platform further comprises at least one vehicle trailer, the at least one vehicle trailer having a plurality of wheels to facilitate a movement of the mobile crossdock. 
     
     
       7. The mobile crossdock of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of doors are configured to move vertically between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       8. The mobile crossdock of  claim 4 , further comprising a drone platform detachably attached to a roof of the mobile crossdock. 
     
     
       9. The mobile crossdock of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one light located in an interior of the at least one mobile container, the at least one light being powered by a power source. 
     
     
       10. The mobile crossdock of  claim 4 , further comprising a fan or an air conditioning unit located in an interior of the at least one mobile container, the fan or the air conditioning unit being powered by a power source. 
     
     
       11. The mobile crossdock of  claim 4 , further comprising a dock plate positioned to bridge a gap between a floor of the mobile crossdock and the cargo area of the vehicle. 
     
     
       12. A method, comprising:
 causing placement of a first one of a plurality of mobile containers at a first location; 
 causing placement of a second one of the plurality of mobile containers at a second location; 
 coupling a distal end of the first one of the plurality of mobile containers to a lateral side of the second one of the plurality of mobile containers using a securing component to form a mobile crossdock having an L-shaped configuration, the plurality of mobile containers being detachably attached to a platform and comprising at least one lateral side having a plurality of openings; 
 causing at least one of a plurality of doors aligned with individual ones of the plurality of openings to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the open position provides access to a vehicle from an interior of the mobile crossdock; and 
 allowing crossdock operations in the mobile crossdock in association with the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a dock plate across a gap between a cargo area of the vehicle and a floor of the mobile crossdock; and 
 providing a ramp to raise a rear end of the vehicle to align the cargo area of the vehicle with the floor of the mobile crossdock. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the platform further comprises at least one vehicle trailer, the at least one vehicle trailer having a plurality of wheels to facilitate a movement of the mobile crossdock. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising causing removal of at least the first one and the second one of the plurality of mobile containers from the platform in response to the crossdock operations being completed. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first one of the plurality of mobile containers or the second one of the plurality of mobile containers comprises a first lateral side having a first plurality of openings and a second lateral side having a second plurality of openings, and at least one of the first plurality of openings is directly aligned with at least one of the second plurality of openings. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is an inbound vehicle and the crossdock operations further comprise:
 providing at least one inbound path to allow unloading a plurality of materials from the inbound vehicle; and 
 providing at least one outbound path to allow dividing and loading the plurality of materials into a plurality of outbound vehicles. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is an outbound vehicle and the crossdock operations further comprise:
 providing at least one inbound path to allow unloading a plurality of materials from a plurality of inbound vehicles; and 
 providing at least one outbound path to allow coalescing and loading the plurality of materials into the outbound vehicle. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first location and the second location are based upon a determined need for the crossdock operations. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 causing placement of a third one of the plurality of mobile containers at a third location; and 
 coupling a distal end of the third one of the plurality of mobile containers to an opposite distal end of the first one of the plurality of mobile containers using another securing component to form the mobile crossdock having the L-shaped configuration.